Jack Rodwell served notice of his rich international promise as England's under-21s got the result they needed to advance as group winners into the semi-finals of the European Championship. In all likelihood it will mean they avoid Italy in the semi-finals in Gothenberg on Friday but this was an occasion to savour the encouraging nature of the performance as much as the result.

Already qualified for the knock-out phase, courtesy of the wins over Finland and Spain, the manager Stuart Pearce made 10 changes to his previous line-up as he rested aching limbs for the bigger battles ahead. "Two years ago Holland and Serbia both got to the final and both of them rested players in their final group game," Pearce said. "It's helpful. We were absolutely on our knees after our semi-final defeat to Holland [in 2007] and I don't think we could have won the final. This time we're going into a semi-final with 23 fit and available players."

Rodwell is only 18 and this was his full debut at this level but the Everton midfielder stamped his class over the 90 minutes. In his athleticism, the precision of his tackling and his assurance in possession, he demanded that Fabio Capello, the manager of the full England team, tracks his progress. "Beyond his years," remarked Pearce. "Jack has given me a selection headache, as have the rest of them."

Germany needed a result to ensure that Spain could not overhaul them for second place in the group and, having named his strongest team, the manager Horst Hrubesch watched them spring into an early lead, when Michael Mancienne lost Gonzalo Castro and watched him finish.

It was the only blot on the evening for England, who weathered the setback with the stand-in captain, Craig Gardner, to the fore.

England deserved parity at the least by half-time and the equaliser was one of the many eye-catching aspects to Rodwell's performance. Ghosting in unmarked to meet Gardner's corner, he powered his header beyond Manuel Neuer. At full-time, with Germany distinctly second best, it was impossible to escape the feeling that England had become the team to beat.